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Let me ask you something, and I'm not trying make it seem like you're obtuse here, but when was the last time you actually hung out in and around GT? I graduated in 2004, and GT today is totally different from even a decade ago. When I was at GT, you didn't really venture out beyond the 4 major roads that box GT in (North Ave, 10th St, Northside, 75/85 connector). As a student even during my time at GT, you either hung out at GT or left to visit friends at home or other college campuses. GT was pretty much dead outside of Greek life. You definitely did not want to wander outside of the GT campus after dark.
Today, social life is COMPLETELY different at GT. The Fraternities and Sorrorities use to be the center of GT's social life during my time there, I would say that if you are not part of the Greek system today, going to frat parties would be a fall back if you had nothing to do.
There use to be only a few spots GT students really went to close to campus (Rocky Mountain Pizza, Northside Tavern, etc.), but today you could probably find a different spot to go to everyday and still not make it to all the places by the end of the school year. Midtown between North Ave and 17th Street is booming with bars and restaurants. West Midtown has developed into a very unique area with the various establishments popping up there. If you visit the cluster of renovated homes between 10th and 14th street right across from campus, you'll find tons of house parties every weekend....and GT actively has campus police patrolling the area. GT also now owns "Olympic Village" on the other side of Smith Dorms (where I stayed as a frosh).
There may still be a "nerd" stigma associated with GT (though today "nerd" is actually a compliment due to tech billionaires), but as far as having a dead college social scene, that's just far from the truth. GT now is just like any other college. If you want the "college experience" it's there for you. You just need to step out of your dorm. I know when I was in school, downtown Athens was really popular to compare GT's social scene to (or lack thereof), but today the type social environment in and around GT dwarfs what UGA has in Athens. In fact, if I were at GT today, I would probably have a hard time concentrating on why I was actually at GT because now there may be TOO much to do. I haven't even touched on all the new clubs, events, and facilities available to GT students today that wasn't available when I was there.
If you don't follow GT recruiting, I'd urge you to look at some of the guys we're recruiting. Look at their reaction to the first time they actually step foot on campus. Their reaction is usually something along the lines of "GT is nothing like I thought it would be. I'm impressed!".
I agree with everything you say. However, it doesn't matter what I think. The people you need to convince are the 16-18 year old young men we are recruiting. Whether you and I agree or not, the perception of GT that is often pushed by recruiting opponents is that you won't have nearly as much fun at GT as you would at U of xxxx. Their perception is our reality, so we need to work on changing that perception.